There is only one soldier named Morgan on the Connah’s Quay/Shotton Memorial (O Morgan) and I can find no records for him. There is one ‘fallen’ soldier named Morgan in the Connah’s Quay/Shotton Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office at Hawarden (Alwyn Morgan). There are records for him.

My subsequent research has solved the problem of the name, as he was Olison on the 1901 census and then Alwyn on the 1911 census.

However, in the County Herald dated 6th July 1917 a List of Casualties was published and Alwyn (Olison) was among the men who were named as having been killed – Welsh Regiment – Morgan – 54232 A. (Shotton)

The index card for Alwyn Morgan at the County Record Office Flintshire (WW1 Index Cards F 27 Shotton) gives the address 3, King George Street, Shotton, Flintshire. The regimental details are confirmed as at the top of this page. It adds that he served for 12 months and was Killed in Action on the 23rd May 1917. The card was dated 6th January 1921 and signed by by M.H.Morgan. (His brother).

Alwyn Morgan in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 tells us that the sole Legatee was his father John who was paid £2. 15s 9d on the 30th August 1917 and his War Gratuity of £3. 10s 0d on the 27th November 1919.

There is no sign of this Morgan family in Flintshire in the 1911 census but Alwyn’s Commonwealth War Grave Certificate says he was the son of J and Margaret Morgan of Treforfan King George Street, Shotton Nr Chester. They must have moved into the area after 1911.

I believe that the family came from the Swansea area to live in Flintshire and that this is them in the 1901 census –

The 1901 census shows a ‘Morgans’ family living at 30, Pleasant Street, Swansea. Father, John Morgans 49 was a Tinplater (Doubler). His wife Margaret was 45. Five of their sons worked in the Tin Plate industry. They were David J 22, Joseph J 20, Lewis 17, Mathew 15 and William 13. Mary J. was 8, Olison was 4 and Susie was 2. (I believe that ‘Olison’ was Alwyn)

The 1911 census records the family living at the same place (30 Pleasant Street Morriston, Glamorganshire). Father, John Morgan 59 was a Tea Merchant. He and Margaret his wife of 33 years had produced 9 children but one had sadly died. The listed children were Susie 12, Alwyn 14 (who worked at the Tin Works) and Lewis 27 who also worked at the Tin Works. David Williams, an 81year old widower was a Boarder.

However, there were a few of the Morgan family on the 1911 census living at 8 Hawarden Terrace, Shotton, Flintshire. Mary Jane Morgan, 18, single with no occupation, Mathew Morgan, 25, a Sheet Worker, and William Morgan, 23, also a Sheet Worker and all single born in Morriston, Glamorgan, they were “Boarders” at the home of William & Elizabeth Evans and their daughter Rose, there were 2 other “Boarders there as well from Morriston, an Ann Alice John, 25, Telephone Operator and William John, 23 a Sheet Worker (Gal.), again both single. So the family were moving up to Deeside before the 1911 census and looking at the address of Alwyn (Olison) on the CWGC Certificate, his parents had made the move too by the end of the war or just after.

Alwyn Morgan’s brother Matthew Henry Morgan also served in the war and survived. There is an index card for Matthew in the Flintshire Roll of Honour at the County Record office in Hawarden filed as a ‘survivor’. (Flintshire WW1 Index Card Shotton L173). The address given is 3. King George Street, Shotton. His regimental number was Private 1085 and he served in the ” Welsh Horse” regiment for 4 years. Matthew had signed the card himself on the 6th January 1921.

Mathew Henry was named on the St. Ethelwold’s Church War Memorial but Alwyn wasn’t. (Another error?) Did Matthew die after the war?